1. 1. How to interpret Narratives Agenda: Narratives 3. The Bible GPS on Genesis 22: 2-19 > Abraham 2. The Bible GPS on Genesis 6: 5-8 > God 4. The Bible GPS on Exodus 2: 1-10 > Moses 5. The Bible GPS on 2 Samuel 11:1-27 > David 6. The Bible GPS on Luke 12: 15-21 > Jesus 7. The Bible GPS on Acts 9: 1-20 > Paul 8. The Bible GPS on Luke 15: 11-32 > God

2. UNDERSTANDINGUNDERSTANDING A P P L I C A T I O N Message to the original receiver 21 st Century The GPS DIFFERENCES of Language Tradition Time Situation History COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATION Acts 9: 1-20

3. The First Process: Understanding 1. Situation S.T.A.R.T. 2. Type of literature 3. Analyze the passage 4. Relate the message to the rest of the Bible 5. Test your findings UNDERSTANDINGUNDERSTANDING Message to the original receiver Acts 9: 1-20

4. The Steps of Understanding 2. Type of literature 1. Situation Acts 9 verses 1-2 spells out the situation of this narrative. Saul was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Lord. Story Allegory HistoryParableConversationApocalyptic S.T.A.R.T. PROSE Narrative ProcedureExplanationInstruction POETRY in PsalmsProphets Wisdom Literature

5. 3. Analyze the passage 3.1 Divide the Story in Episodes (An Episode is chain of events that are related, having the same location, time and major participants) 3.2 Determine the Plot-Structure and Main Themes (The plot is the way in which the story develops and serves to keep the interest of the reader) 3.3 Conclude and summarize the message to the original receiver

6. Acts 9: 1-20 Tension: Saul persecutes the church Relief of tension: The Damascus experience Result: Blindness (CEV) 1 Saul kept on threatening to kill the Lord's followers. He even went to the high priest 2 and asked for letters to the Jewish leaders in Damascus. He did this because he wanted to arrest and take to Jerusalem any man or woman who had accepted the Lord's Way. 3 When Saul had almost reached Damascus, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice that said, "Saul! Saul! Why are you so cruel to me?" 5 "Who are you?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus," the Lord answered. "I am the one you are so cruel to. 6 Now get up and go into the city, where you will be told what to do.” 9 and for three days he was blind and did not eat or drink.

7. Tension: Ananias scared to meet Paul Relief of tension: The Lord comforts Ananias Result: A persecutor becomes a follower (CEV) 10 A follower named Ananias lived in Damascus, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision. Ananias answered, "Lord, here I am.” 11 The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the house of Judas on Straight Street. When you get there, you will find a man named Saul from the city of Tarsus. Saul is praying, 12 and he has seen a vision. He saw a man named Ananias coming to him and putting his hands on him, so that he could see again.” 13 Ananias replied, "Lord, a lot of people have told me about the terrible things this man has done to your followers in Jerusalem. 14 Now the chief priests have given him the power to come here and arrest anyone who worships in your name." 15 The Lord said to Ananias, "Go! I have chosen him to tell foreigners, kings, and the people of Israel about me. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for worshiping in my name." 17 Ananias left and went into the house where Saul was staying. Ananias placed his hands on him and said, "Saul, the Lord Jesus has sent me. He is the same one who appeared to you along the road. He wants you to be able to see and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Suddenly something like fish scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see. He got up and was baptized. 19 Then he ate and felt much better. For several days Saul stayed with the Lord's followers in Damascus. 20 Soon he went to the Jewish meeting places and started telling people that Jesus is the Son of God.

8. 3. Analyze the passage 3.1 Divide the Story in Episodes (An Episode is chain of events that are related, having the same location, time and major participants) 3.2 Determine the Plot-Structure and Main Themes (The plot is the way in which the story develops and serves to keep the interest of the reader) 3.3 Conclude and summarize the message to the original receiver Message to the original Receiver Everyone (good and bad, rich and poor) needs God’s grace.

9. 4. Relate the message to the broader Biblical and theological framework? 5. Test your findings STARTSTART 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2 – NIV) 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. (Romans 3 NIV) Message to the original Receiver Everyone (good and bad, rich and poor) needs God’s grace.

10. UNDERSTANDINGUNDERSTANDING A P P L I C A T I O N Message to the original receiver 21 st Century Essential = Moral Essential = Moral COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATION Incidental = Cultural, Ceremonial & Civil Message to the original Receiver Everyone (good and bad, rich and poor) needs God’s grace.

11. UNDERSTANDINGUNDERSTANDING A P P L I C A T I O N Message to the original receiver 21 st Century The GPS COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATION

15. Answer the following questions… 1. Saul was considered a very good person (Phil 3: 4-8). Why did he and all people (good and bad, rich and poor) also need grace? (Romans 3: 23; Ephesians 2: 8-9) 2. Why do you think is it not always easy for good people to accept grace? 3. Why do you think Saul's conversion was so dramatic? (Acts 26:16-18, Acts 22:6-21) 4. What do you think is so amazing about grace (Page 153 in Hearing God’s Tweet). 5. CS Lewis once made the comment that grace is Christianity’s unique contribution among world religions. Do you agree?

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